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Collections Overview

University Libraries consists of the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, the Angelo Bruno Business Library, the McLure Education Library, the Eric and Sarah Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering, and the W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library. An off-site Annex houses low use materials from all libraries. The combined collections number nearly 2.5 million volumes, contain more than 1 million government documents, and include extensive collections of manuscripts, maps, and recordings. Over the past few years the University Libraries has expanded access to its digital collections, including nearly 30,000 full text electronic serials and a growing collection of electronic books. Digital collections are available 24/7 from any computer.

The Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library houses books, journals, microforms, and recordings supporting the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences, as well as a large collection of government documents. Designated as a depository library in 1860, the documents collection is one of the largest in the nation.

The Angelo Bruno Business Library's collection offers excellent resources in the specialized subjects supported by the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration and the Manderson Graduate School of Business. Full-text access to business-related periodicals and newspapers is available through LEXIS-NEXIS and Dow Jones Interactive. Among the outstanding features is its collection of corporate reports containing current and historical annual reports and 10-Ks of most major American corporations.

The McLure Education Library's collection numbers over 130,000 books, 300,000 microforms, and 13,500 bound periodicals. In addition, the library houses the school library collection, containing over 16,000 children's and young adult fiction and non-fiction books, and the Curriculum Materials Center.

The Eric and Sarah Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering was built with the intent of taking maximum advantage of computer-based information systems for research. Built in order to accommodate new as well as traditional forms of information storage and retrieval, the library features a modern information management system which offers access to numerous local and remote electronic resources.

The W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library houses materials related to Alabama and the South, rare editions, Confederate imprints, pamphlets, maps, University Archives, state publications, and manuscripts. Included is one of the two most comprehensive collections of published Alabamiana in the world, as well as the works of Lafcadio Hearn and Robinson Jeffers, first editions of works by Sir Walter Scott, an almost complete set of the World War II Armed Services Editions of paperback books, papers of several Alabama congressmen and senators, as well as records of businesses ranging from general stores to iron and coal companies, records of churches and social and professional organizations, and personal papers of individuals and families.

The Annex is an off-site facility that is currently used to house around 275,000 books and around 15,000 microfilm. The interior is climate controlled with temperature and humidity regulation in order to provide the best environment for these items. Items are delivered twice a day, Monday through Friday.

University Libraries holds memberships in the Association of Research Libraries, the Center for Research Libraries, the Southeastern Library Network, the Coalition for Networked Information, and the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries. Also on campus under separate administration are the Health Sciences Library, the Bounds Law Library, and the Map Library.